Wire-fence tool



Patented May 9, I899.

D N A L W 0 H W L WIRE FENCE TOOL.

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN WV. I-IOIVLA ND, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

WIRE-FENCE TOOL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 624,653, dated May 9, 1899.

Application filed December 20, 1898. Serial No. 699,808. (No model.)

To osZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN W. HowLAND, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in I/Vire-Fence Tools; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to wire-fence tools; and the object is to provide a simple and effective device for building, tightening, and

repairing wire fences.

WVith this object in view the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing the figure is a perspective view illustrating my invention when used for tightening fence-wires.

l 1 denote the end posts, and 2 the wire to be stretched. 1

3 denotes a bracket havinghinged arms 4, formed with sharp points 5, adapted to be driven into the posts to support the bracket in proper position. This bracket is provided with two apertured ears 6 6 and with hinged pawls 7. ears forms a hinge-section 6, by means of which the tightening-tool may be removably secured in place. i

9 denotes the tightening-tool, which consists of ametallic rod or tube 10, split to form a tongue 11 and provided with ratchet teeth 12, and the free end of the tool may be formed with a sharp point 13, which will be found useful in drawing staples. The-opposite end of the tool is provided with a rigid sleeve 14, in which the operating-handle is loosely mounted. The wire to be stretched has its end engaged with the split tongue, and by turning the tool in its bearings the slack 'of The upper half of the apertured.

the wire will be taken up. Thewire now being stretched taut is held in this position by the pivoted pawl, thus allowing the operator,

to drive the staple into the post to hold the wire in its stretched position.

While I have shown the hooks lfor securing the device to the fence post, any other suitable meansas, for example, short chains provided with hooks at their free ends-may be employed; but I have not thought it necessary to illustrate this form, as their application is obvious.

The accompanying drawing shows my invention in the best form now known to me; but many changes in the details might be made within the skill of a good mechanic without departing from thespirit of myinvention as.

set forth in the claims at the end of this specification.

, Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1

1. The combination with the bracket, means for fastening it to a post or support, aper tured ears formed on said bracket, and having a hinged section, a pawl pivoted to said bracket, and a winding-tool journaled in said ears and having a wire-grasping lip, and a ratchet-tooth, substantially as set forth.

nesses.

JOHN W. HOWLAND. Witnesses:

F. A, BOEHMER, MAY CALDWELL. 

